Needful Things, A Novel By Stephen King

NEEDFUL THINGS explores a side of human nature: the willingness of some (or more likely many) to do anything to get to what they want, including doing harm to others. The fable offers an explanation of the dynamics we are witnessing in the world around us. We all want things in our lives, mostly materialistic, and we are willing to work hard to get them, but when these “wants” turn into “needs”, they can arouse a dark side in some.

The story starts with a peaceful town where people are just going about doing their things; that is until a demon in human form decides to bring it to ruins, and he knows exactly how: by turning the citizens of the town against each other. He knows a thing or two about human nature. So, he opens a store that offers people the things they desire. In return, each person must be willing to do something evil to someone else in the town. It doesn’t take long before this once upon a time was peaceful town transforms into a war zone, with citizens are out in the streets trying to kill each other.

There is a happy ending to the fable, but more importantly, there are many questions to be pondered. The question I personally ponder is: how closely does the plot of this fable resemble what is happening in today’s world? When I read some of the things on Twitter or in the comment section in many YouTube videos, I arrive at a depressing answer: very closely indeed.